Our work doesn't end.
Rev. Susan Hendershot, IPL President leaves us some thoughts about what has happened at COP 26:
"First, there have been many important initiatives launched to get the world towards the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels. These include the Global Methane Pledge and the commitment to end deforestation—both of which the U.S. has committed to. And while these commitments don’t get us to the 1.5 degree goal, they do get us closer.
In a positive change from the previous COP, The U.S.’s “whole of government” approach has been on full display in Glasgow, with President Biden, members of Congress, Cabinet members, and U.S. negotiators speaking and sharing a number of new initiatives to tackle mitigation, adaptation, climate finance for least developed countries, and other important goals."
The final document is not yet finalized. Countries continue to negotiate. Fossil fuels issues remain a point of divergence. An article from the Tribune stated:
"Climate activists, however, criticised “watered-down commitments to end the use of coal and other fossil fuels”, saying “we don’t believe their pledges and promises”.
Officials insisted that language around fossil fuels may be “softened”, but the inclusion of a commitment in the final deal will be seen as a “landmark moment”."
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